Pedal mechanism for grand player-pianos.



T. DANQUARD.

PEDAL MECHANlSM FOR GRAND PLAYER PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1914.

Patented July 25 1916.

Vs W 1 E p N m 8 68 Wang W QM! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, TO THE AUTO PNEUMATIC ACTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PEDAL MECHANISM FOR GRAND PLAYER-PIANOS.

Application filed November 18, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS DANQUARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Pedal Mechanism for Grand Player- Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lever and its connections for connecting a pedal, preferably a foldable one, with the pumping bellows of a grand player piano.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simplified construction of mechanism for operating the bellows which will have fewer joints and less mechanism than has been the case heretofore and in which the levers which stand the main strain of the operation shall be located within the depending pedal support and shall be located substantially vertically therein, thus doing away with the necessity of providing a special support for them in addition to the pedal support. In this way the necessary leverage can be secured without unduly straining any part of the casing or depending pedal support and the pedals can be folded into the latter without the use of any links jointed in the middle and without disturbing the position of any part of the connections between the pedals and the bellows.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion. of a grand piano casing showing a preferred, embodiment of this invention applied thereto and with some parts in section, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

The invention is shown as applied to a horizontal case 10 of a grand piano, this case being provided with a pair of horizontal pumping bellows 11 provided with springs 12, and with a wind chest 13 above the bellows. The case is also shown provided with-a depending pedal support 15 which rests on the floor as usual. At the bottom of this pedal support is hinged a plate 16 to the forward end of which the two pedals 17 are pivoted. The pedals are con nectcd by links 18 with a pair of pedal levers 19 which are pivoted to swing on a horizontal shaft or rod 20 supported by the pedal support 15. These levers 19 are housed sub stantially within the pedal support 15 and extend upwardly therein in a substantially Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Serial No. 872,694.

vertical position. At the upper end each pedal-lever 19 is connected by a flexible cord 21 with one end of a bell crank 22 which is pivoted on a bracket 23 supported by the bottom of the case. The other arm of this bell crank is provided with a short link 25% arranged substantially in vertical position and connected with a bracket on the movable leaf of one of the pumping bellows. In this way it will be seen that when a pedal 17 is forced inwardly the lower end of the lever 19 is moved with it and the upper end moved forward. This swings the upper arm of the bell crank 22 directly downwardly and applies a force in a direct downward direction to the movable leaf of the bellows for the purpose of expanding the same against the action of the spring 12. In this way it will be seen that the two bellows are operated by the use of a comparatively few parts supported rigidly by the main part of the instrument and that the leverage applied to the movable leaf of the bellows is exerted in a direct downward direction normal to the plane of that leaf so as to get a maximum effect. Moreover the levers 19, which constitute the main part of the operative connections between the pedals and bellows, are not only supported rigidly by the pedal support 15 but are housed within the ,same. In this way the necessity for providing special brackets under the casing for supporting the main levers of these connections is obviated; nothing being required but two small brackets for supporting the bell cranks. In this way the levers 19 can be made strong and heavy without unduly straining any weak part of the instrument. As they are supported by the same part that supports the pedals the strains are taken up by that part, that is the pedal support 15, thus eliminating any tendency to twist the pivotal connection of this lever from its support. Moreover these levers are hidden within the pedal support and there is nothing to show from the outside of the casing that it is a player instrument when it is being operated manually. Furthermore, the mechanism for operating the bellows is located directly at the end thereof and supported directly by the casing. It occupies small space and if desired can be connected up all ready for application and conveniently shipped or transported about the factory before being applied to the case.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention, and have shown only a single location of the pumping bellows and action, I am aware of the fact that many modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what I do claim is 1. In a grand player piano, the combination with a depending pedal support, pedals carried thereby, a hinged plate at the bottom of said support forming part of the front thereof when closed, and a horizontal pumping bellows at the rear of said support, of a lever pivoted on said pedal support and extending upwardly within the same substantially to the top thereof and forwardly at the bottom to the front of said support and housed entirely therein, said lever being con nect-ed with one of the pedals at the bottom, and means connected with the top thereof for operating said bellows.

2. In a grand player piano, the combination with the horizontal case and a horizontally disposed pumping bellows at the rear thereof, of a depending pedal support, a pair of pedals carried thereby, a horizontal rod extending through the pedal support, a pair of levers pivoted to swing freely on said rod and located in substantially vertical position and housed within the pedal support in all their positions, said levers being connected with the pedals at the bottom, a flexible connection from the top of each of said levers extending to a point adjacent to the bellows, and mechanism located at the front of the bellows for expanding them when the flexible connections are drawn forward by the movement of the levers.

3. In a grand player piano, the combination with the horizontal case and pumping bellows at the rear thereof, of a pedal support, a pair of pedals foldingly connected therewith, a pair of levers carried by and housed within said pedal support and connected at their lower ends with the pedals, flexible cords extending from the tops of said levers, a bell crank connected with-each cord and a short vertical link extending down 'ardly from the upper end of each bell crank to a movable leaf of said bellows, whereby when the lower end of either lever is pushed in the respective short link will be depressed and the corresponding bellows expanded.

4-. In an automatic horizontal grand piano, the combination of a key-bed, a support extending downwardly therefrom and provided with a hinged front plate, a pair of pumping treadles carried by said hinged front plate which of itself forms a part of the front of said support when the treadles are in inoperative position, levers operated by said treadles pivoted on an axis spaced from the rear of said support and extending from a point adjacent to the lower part or the support to a point adjacent to the upper part thereof and to the key-bed of the instrument and located and movable entirely within said support, pumping bellows, and connections arranged closely beneath the key-bed and connecting the upper ends of said levers with the pumping bellows.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS DANQUARD.

\Vitnesses:

7M. J. KELLEY, M. J. BARTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. 0. 

